Tag Archives | Intern Crit

CLOSED: June Agent Wishlist: Ammi-Joan Paquette and Sarah LaPolla

Thank you so much to everyone for participating!
Congratulations to Haylee Qualls, Suze Winegardner, Brandi Ziegler, 
Chris Day, Emily Skrutskie, and Demetra Brodsky!
 
 
 
 
 

Let the scramble for June’s Agent Wishlist begin! This is your chance to get a query and five pages read and critiqued by Super Intern Jess Silva, Super Author Luvina Jean-Charles, and one of two spectacular agents, Ammi-Joan Paquette or Sarah LaPolla.

This contest will be open until June 29th at 10:00PM Eastern Time or when all the spots are filled. Please participate as quickly as possible, as donations to the campaign will close soon.

  1. Read the wishes to see if your (completed!) MS is a match!
  2. Claim your spot by commenting on this blog post. Please include the agent’s name and wish number in the comment. For example, comment: “Sarah LaPolla #3, please!”
  3. Hold tight until Jess or I reply if you’ve got the spot.
  4. Only once your spot is confirmed, go to http://mycharitywater.org/critsforwater2012and make one of the following donations:
    ——-$1 for a read only by either Luvina or Jess.
    ——-$5 for a critique by either Luvina or Jess.
    ——-$10 for a critique by BOTH Luvina and Jess.
  5. REGARDLESS of which donation you choose, if your pages are passed onto the agent, that agent will also critique your submission.
  6. Wait until you get an email about how to proceed.
  7. Jess/Luvina will read your submission. The ones they feel best match the agent’s wishes will be forwarded to the agent for critique.

If you’re confused, feel free to ask questions in the comments. Both Jess and I will be monitoring the Wishlist to keep tabs across all timezones :)

—

So, without further ado, the Wishes!!

Introducing Ammi-Joan Paquette of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency!

Joan joined EMLA in spring 2009 as an associate agent and was promoted to agent in fall 2011 after working in the editorial area of educational software development. In the last few years she has placed dozens of manuscripts with editors and is especially passionate about connecting with and launching the careers of debut authors. As the “East Coast branch” of EMLA, Joan works from her home office in Massachusetts, with long-distance support from the main Flagstaff office. She represents all forms of children’s and young adult literature, but is most excited by a strong lyrical voice, tight plotting with surprising twists and turns, and stories told with heart and resonance that will stand the test of time.

An EMLA client herself, Joan is also the author of a picture book, The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies (Tanglewood, 2009), a mid-grade novel Nowhere Girl (Walker, 2011), and several other books due out in the next few years. When she is not on the phone, answering email, or writing, you will most likely find Joan curled up with a book. Or baking something delicious. Or talking about something delicious she’s baked. Really, after books and food, what else is there worth saying?

Joan’s Wishes:

  1. YA psychological thriller with unexpected plot twists and turns; perhaps even an unreliable narrator (Spots left: 9)
  2. Well-paced YA mystery in the style of Agatha Christie (Spots left: 8)
  3. Rich YA fantasy, with a strong female main character and plenty of action, in the style of Graceling (Spots left: 1)

 

And Sarah LaPolla of Curtis Brown LTD!

Sarah LaPolla began at Curtis Brown in 2008, working with Dave Barbor and Peter Ginsberg. Sarah is interested in literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, science fiction, literary horror, and young adult fiction. She loves complex characters, coming-of-age stories, and strong narrators. Sarah graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Writing and English, and went on to receive her MFA in Creative Writing from The New School.

Sarah’s Wishes:

  1. MG literary/coming-of-age – think Jenny Han, but younger (Spots left: 7)
  2. YA science fiction (less on the dystopian side and more on the space adventure side) (Spots left: 6)
  3. YA psychological mystery/thriller – but not paranormal/supernatural (Spots left: 9)

That’s all, guys. Aaaand GO!

Posted on June 27, 2012 in 2012 Crits, Finished · Comments { 68 }

CLOSED: Critique of a First Chapter by Author Kara Taylor

Next up on the Crits for Water awesome is former intern and wonderfully lovely Kara M. Taylor, author of the upcoming Prep School Confidential (St. Martin’s, 2013). Kara is offering to critique the first chapter of a YA or MG manuscript (any genre). Get to pledging, guys, because Kara has some great insights about what it takes to make your submissions stand out, especially after her time as an intern for the illustrious Elana Roth in addition to everything else!.

Pledging will be open for this critique until June 9th at 11:59pm, Eastern Daylight Time.

  1. Comment on this blog post saying how much you pledge.
  2. By pledging, you promise to donate the pledged amount only if you win
  3. Pledges must be at least $10.
  4. If you would like to pledge more, go for it! Every additional five dollars will give you another entry. (Ex: pledging $40, enough to give two people in a developing nation clean, safe water, gets you seven entries.)
  5. You do NOT need to pledge more than previous commenters.
  6. Once pledging time ends, I’ll choose a winner using random.org.
  7. Again: please do NOT donate unless I email you saying you’re the winner.

This is a little complicated, so if you have any questions, feel free to comment below or email me.

—

About Kara:

Kara is 22-years-old and represented by Suzie Townsend of Nancy Coffey Literary. She lives and writes on Long Island, where she splits her time between her Chihuahua, cupcake decorating, and graduate school. She’s a certified English teacher, but she’s still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. PREP SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL is about a Queen Bee/accidental arsonist and a murder mystery at a creepy Boston boarding school.

Posted on June 7, 2012 in 2012 Crits, Finished · Comments { 6 }

CLOSED: Critique of 100 Pages by Cassandra Marshall

Here starts one of three excellent chances to get a critique from Cassandra Marshall, freelance editor, YA author, and literary agent staffer of awesome. Cassandra’s got lots of editing experience, an excellent eye to detail, and plenty of happy clients, so don’t miss this opportunity. This can be for the first 100 pages of any YA manuscript! So get to bidding, folks!

You can participate in all three of Cassandra’s critiques, but you can only win one.

You can bid for this critique until June 4th at 11:59pm, Eastern Daylight Time.

  1. Comment on THIS BLOG POST with your bid. Bidding starts at US$1.
  2. You may, of course, bid more than once.
  3. The highest bid at 11:59pm, Eastern Daylight Time, June 4th, 2012, will win.
  4. Once the auction closes, if you are the highest bidder, I will contact you with further instructions.
  5. Please DO NOT donate, send the file, etc., unless I email you! SERIOUSLY.
  6. And…go!

—

About Cassandra:

Cassandra gets to use her MA in Creative Writing from Newcastle University in her day job as a freelance editor. This means that she can set her own hours and lay around the house in her pajamas all day (not really) and snuggle with her dog Mollie whenever she wants to (really). She’s seriously addicted to that dog.

She’s also addicted to reading queries for a literary agency in NYC. Some are funny, some are horrifying, and some are so awesome that it takes all her reserve not to jump around and shout about them. She does that anyway, but only in the privacy of her own home.

It took a year in the northeast of England to get that MA and even though she’ll be in student debt up to her eyeballs for the rest of her life, it was worth every penny. And before that she attended Rochester College where she earned a BA in Professional Writing.

Posted on June 3, 2012 in 2012 Crits, Finished · Comments { 18 }

CLOSED: Critique of 25 Pages by Cassandra Marshall

One of the three great opportunities for a super sparkly critique from Cassandra Marshall, freelance editor, YA author, and literary agent staffer of awesome. This raffle is for a critique of the first 25 pages of any YA manuscript! If you donate for this raffle and don’t win–no worries, you’ll still be eligible for a consolation Kat-Crit.

Feel free to enter in all of Cassandra’s critique contests, but be aware that you can only win one. :D

Entries will be accepted for this critique until June 5th at 11:59pm, Eastern Daylight Time.

  1. Go to http://mycharitywater.org/critsforwater2012
  2. Click on the “Donate” button and donate $10.
  3. Then in the comments section, please write in a way to contact you. You can use your email, twitter, or website. Anything’s cool, as long as you check it often :D For example:
  4. When you donate, mycharitywater will ask you to become a member (if you’re not already). That does NOT mean the donation didn’t go through! If in doubt, check your email/bank account before re-donating.
  5. I will use random.org to pick the raffle winners June 6th
  6. Anyone who does not win the raffle will receive a consolation Kat-Crit.

This is a little complicated, so please, if you have any questions, use the comment section below! And thank you so much!

—

About Cassandra:

Cassandra gets to use her MA in Creative Writing from Newcastle University in her day job as a freelance editor. This means that she can set her own hours and lay around the house in her pajamas all day (not really) and snuggle with her dog Mollie whenever she wants to (really). She’s seriously addicted to that dog.

She’s also addicted to reading queries for a literary agency in NYC. Some are funny, some are horrifying, and some are so awesome that it takes all her reserve not to jump around and shout about them. She does that anyway, but only in the privacy of her own home.

It took a year in the northeast of England to get that MA and even though she’ll be in student debt up to her eyeballs for the rest of her life, it was worth every penny. And before that she attended Rochester College where she earned a BA in Professional Writing.

Posted on June 3, 2012 in 2012 Crits, Finished · Comments { 0 }

CLOSED: Critique of 50 Pages by Cassandra Marshall

Another of the three great chances to get a critique from Cassandra Marshall, freelance editor, YA author, and literary agent staffer of awesome. You are welcome to participate in all three of Cassandra’s critiques, but there will be three separate winners. So get involved in them!

This pledge is for the first 50 pages of any YA manuscript!

Pledging will be open for this critique until June 5th at 11:59pm, Eastern Daylight Time.

  1. Comment on this blog post saying how much you pledge.
  2. By pledging, you promise to donate the pledged amount only if you win
  3. Pledges must be at least $20.
  4. If you would like to pledge more, go for it! Every additional ten dollars will give you another entry. (Ex: pledging $80, enough to give an entire family in a developing nation clean, safe water, gets you seven entries.)
  5. You do NOT need to pledge more than previous commenters.
  6. Once pledging time ends, I’ll choose a winner using random.org.
  7. Again: please do NOT donate unless I email you saying you’re the winner.

This is a little complicated, so if you have any questions, feel free to comment below or email me.

—

About Cassandra:

Cassandra gets to use her MA in Creative Writing from Newcastle University in her day job as a freelance editor. This means that she can set her own hours and lay around the house in her pajamas all day (not really) and snuggle with her dog Mollie whenever she wants to (really). She’s seriously addicted to that dog.

She’s also addicted to reading queries for a literary agency in NYC. Some are funny, some are horrifying, and some are so awesome that it takes all her reserve not to jump around and shout about them. She does that anyway, but only in the privacy of her own home.

It took a year in the northeast of England to get that MA and even though she’ll be in student debt up to her eyeballs for the rest of her life, it was worth every penny. And before that she attended Rochester College where she earned a BA in Professional Writing.

Posted on June 3, 2012 in 2012 Crits, Finished · Comments { 11 }

May Agent Wishlist: Sandy Lu and Natanya Wheeler

Congratulations to Rebecca Enzor, Linda McLaren, and Sarah Raplee!
Stay tuned for June’s Agent Wishlist Contest.

 

 

Let the scramble for May’s Agent Wishlist begin! This is your chance to get a query and five pages read and critiqued by Super Intern Jess Silva, Super Author Luvina Jean-Charles, and one of two crazy awesome agents, Sandy Lu and Natanya Wheeler.

This contest will be open until June 6th at 11:59 AM Eastern Time or when all the spots are filled. Whichever comes first.

  1. Read the wishes to see if your (completed!) MS is a match!
  2. Claim your spot by commenting on this blog post. Please include the agent’s name and wish number in the comment. For example, comment: “Sandy Lu #2, please!”
  3. Hold tight until Jess replies if you’ve got the spot.
  4. Only once your spot is confirmed, go to http://mycharitywater.org/critsforwater2012and make one of the following donations:
    ——-$1 for a read only by either Luvina or Jess.
    ——-$5 for a critique by either Luvina or Jess.
    ——-$10 for a critique by BOTH Luvina and Jess.
  5. REGARDLESS of which donation you choose, if your pages are passed onto the agent, that agent will also critique your submission.
  6. Wait until you get an email about how to proceed.
  7. Jess/Luvina will read your submission. The ones they feel best match the agent’s wishes will be forwarded to the agent for another critique.

If you’re confused, feel free to ask questions in the comments. Both Jess and I will be monitoring the Wishlist to keep tabs across all timezones :)

—

So, without further ado, the Wishes!!

Introducing Sandy Lu of L Perkins Agency!

Sandy holds BAs in psychology and sociology from Queens College, with minors in music, business, and Japanese. Prior to becoming an agent, she attended the Ph.D. Program in Social and Personality Psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center and worked as a business/operations manager in the theater industry. She is fluent in spoken and written Mandarin Chinese. Sandy is seeking submissions that draw her in with a unique voice and a good yarn that will make her miss her subway stop and keep her up at night.

Sandy’s Wishes (adult and YA):

  1. Espionage fiction set in China between the two World Wars (Spots left: 10)
  2. An historical thriller set in 19th century London or New York (Spots left: 10)
  3. Contemporary psychological suspense in the vein of Tana French and Gillian Flynn (Spots left: 7)

 

And Natanya Wheeler of Nancy Yost Literary!

Natanya Wheeler is an agent with the Nancy Yost Literary Agency, where she also handles digital rights. She represents both literary and commercial fiction, and always has an eye open for exciting nonfiction. Natanya is looking for submissions with unique voices, tight plots and strong characterization. She has an incurably weak spot for antiheroes. Natanya lives in San Francisco.

Natanya’s Wishes (adult only):

  1. A book about sisters (Spots left: 7)
  2. A well-researched literary thriller in the vein of Tom Rob Smith (Spots left: 10)
  3. A funny essay collection – on whatever subject! (Spots left: 9)

That’s all, guys. Aaaand GO!

Posted on May 30, 2012 in 2012 Crits, Finished · Comments { 28 }

Agent Wishlist: INFO

FYI: Please do not donate for the agent wishlist yet! It will open on May 30th.

Group hugs are the best.

We’re gonna try something different, fun, and exciting on May 30th, so get ready guys, and tell your friends. Super Intern Jess Silva and Super Author Luvina Jean-Charles have put together a unique opportunity to get your work critiqued by one or both of them AND an agent. How?

Grant an Agent’s Wish!

Two agents, Sandy Lu of L. Perkins Agency, and Natanya Wheeler of Nancy Yost Literary have given Crits for Water 2012 three wishes of what they’d love to see in their inbox. If your MS matches one of those wishes, you can enter to get the first five pages of your MS plus a query read and critiqued. Each wish can have up to ten entries. To land an entry, comment on the blog post saying the agent and the wish.

Once your entry is confirmed by Jess, choose your donation:

$1 to enter only (no critique, unless you’re passed onto the agent).
$5 for a critique from Jess or Luvina
$10 for a critique from both ladies
(Again, please DON’T donate now.)

Whatever donation you choose, Jess or Luvina will read the entry and possibly pass it onto the Agent for another critique!

The wishes will be posted on May 30th!
The Agent Wishlist will be open for three days, or until each wish reaches 10 entries.
Whichever comes first.

So yeah. EPIC.

But also possibly confusing. If you have any questions about the Agent Wishlist, please throw them in the comments below. We’re figuring it out, too!

Posted on May 27, 2012 in 2012 Crits, FAQ · Comments { 4 }

CLOSED: Critique of 20 Pages + Query by Jess Silva and Luvina Jean-Charles

The double phenomes that are Jess Silva (one of my crit partners extraordinaire) and Luvina Jean-Charles are offering a two-for-one critique of 20 pages and a query from the first pages of any commercial fiction, but especially YA/MG or romance MS. Jess is one of our illustrious Lit Agent Interns of Awesome (and also a great author), and Ms. Luvina is an incredibly creative author represented by Tina Wexler.

An only slightly arbitrary picture of princesses.

This auction is open for bidding until 11:59pm, Eastern Daylight Time, April 28th, 2012.

  1. Comment on THIS BLOG POST with your bid. Bidding starts at US$1.
  2. You may, of course, bid more than once.
  3. The highest bid at 11:59pm, Eastern Daylight Time, April 28th, 2012, will win.
  4. Once the auction closes, if you are the highest bidder, I will contact you with further instructions.
  5. Please DO NOT donate, send the file, etc., unless I email you! SERIOUSLY.
  6. And…go!

—

About Jess:

Jessica Silva is a 23-year-old YA writer born and raised in the Seattle metropolitan area, which broadly means she enjoys coffee and nature but not at the same time. She tells stories she wishes she’d read as a growing girl (usually involves kickassery). Outside of writing, she’s a research assistant in the psychology department at the University of Washington and a remote intern for a fabulous literary agent.

 

About Luvina:

She’s an 23-year-old American YA writer living in Paris. Bright-eyed club kid turned micro-blogging expat, turned frequently anxious baby author. She writes fiction about people with problems. She likes Mexican food, horror movies and those refrigerators that let you choose between ice chips and ice cubes. Sge also like listing things in groups of three. She’s represented by International Creative Management.

Posted on April 27, 2012 in 2012 Crits, Finished · Comments { 14 }

CLOSED: Critique of 50 pages by intern Brent Taylor

We interrupt your scheduled romance critiques for a day of

YA/MG

Awesome, slightly naughty, and Kelly Cutrone addict Brent Taylor, publishing intern, is offering a critique of 50 pages of a young adult or middle grade manuscript. This is one of the folks who reads your submissions before passing it onto an agent, so don’t miss his great eye, experience, and overall amazingness.

Read about his critique process and what he tends to look for in this interview at Not an Editor.

This auction is open for bidding until 11:59pm, Eastern Daylight Time, April 19th, 2012.

  1. Comment on THIS BLOG POST with your bid. Bidding starts at US$1.
  2. You may, of course, bid more than once.
  3. The last comment at 11:59pm, Eastern Daylight Time, April 19th, 2012, will win.
  4. Once the auction closes, if you are the highest bidder, I will contact you with further instructions.
  5. Please DO NOT donate, send the file, etc., unless I email you! SERIOUSLY.
  6. And…go!

—

About Brent:

Brent Taylor is a former gymnast and now intern for a literary agent. He loves kids’ books and coffee, also blogs about books, and occasionally writes.

Posted on April 18, 2012 in 2012 Crits, Finished · Comments { 4 }